October 18, 2016

The day after Halloween can be an interesting one. Inevitably, your house will be covered in candy wrappers, decorative cobwebs, and you might even encounter a sleepy goblin with a tummy ache. The merriment is far from over as November 1st is actually National Brush Day. This will hopefully help balance the consumption of all the trick-or-treat goodies. In honor of the upcoming holiday, here are 5 brushing tips from your dentist near Helotes from Alamo Springs Dental.

1. Brush at Least Twice a Day

No one’s breath smells very pleasant in the morning. This is because all the bacteria in your mouth has had a chance to build up. This bacteria not only affects your breath, but your teeth as well. This is why you should brush when you get up in the morning. Not only will it give you fresh breath, but it will help keep your teeth healthy. Brushing in the evening then breaks up the food and plaque that have built up on your teeth over the course of the day, which will help preserve them. Twice a day is enough as brushing 3 times or more can actually start to wear down your teeth.

2. Brush for at Least 2 Minutes

Did you know most adults do not brush their teeth long enough? It’s easy to let your mind wander and not keep track. The ideal length in order to properly clean your teeth is two minutes. Most electric toothbrushes have a timer, so this can be easy. If you are using a manual tooth brush, just set a timer, or even more fun, put on a song so you don’t have to keep track of it.

3. Brush Every Side of Each Tooth

It’s common for people to miss large portions of their teeth when brushing, especially along the back teeth. Take special care to brush the front, back, and sides of each tooth. Plaque can build up on all of these areas, so they need to be cleaned. Also, remember to brush along the gum line to help prevent gum disease.

4. Use a Slight Circular Motion

Brushing with a gentle circular motion is a better method of breaking up plaque than simply scrubbing back and forth. If you’re going to brush, might as well do it in the most efficient way possible!

5. Come See Us!

You don’t necessarily have to come see us the exact day after Halloween, but a dental cleaning in Helotes is one of the best ways to keep your teeth clean. There are simply too many small surfaces on your teeth to reach with brushing alone, and this is where a dental cleaning can help. Our special tools and expert eyes can clean those problem areas and keep you in good shape between regular check-ups. The team at Alamo Springs Dental wishes you a Happy Halloween and a Merry National Brush Day!